Bug in Deletions Markup (Track Changes dialog)?

[djprius]

In the Track Changes Options dialog, one can set the manner in which
insertions and deletions will be shown (as well as the color).

For both insertions and deletions, one can choose "none" as one of
the choices. I would expect that to mean that if "none" is chosen for
insertions, then the insertion will be made, but not marked. This is,
in fact, how it operates.

I would expect a similar result if "none" is chosen for deletions: it
should delete the text, but not leave any indication of the deletion.
However, after setting the option to "none", I cannot delete the text at
all -- no matter what manner I use to try to delete the text.

Seems like a bug to me. Any contrary views? Or am I doing something
wrong?

David

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

If you want not to see it, use Hidden instead.

 

[djprius]

Hi, Suzanne,

If you want not to see it, use Hidden instead.

Yes, I know that -- thanks to your response on a related topic within
the last week. And, that's a decent way to it. Still, isn't the "none"
feature broken for deletions?

David

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Not really. If you're using balloons, then deleted text should be shown in
the balloons in Final Showing Markup view. If you're not using balloons (or
are in Normal view), then both deleted and inserted text are shown, each
marked in the way you've selected. If you're seeing deleted text in the
document (not in balloons) and not marked in Print Layout view with balloons
enabled, then this would be a bug, yes.

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi David,

What version of Word are you finding this in? I am see the behavior in Word 2007. If you turn off the the options to mark deletions
and balloon then try to delete text with track changes on you get a change bar in the margin but the text you try to delete still
shows in Original showing markup view but not in in Final or Final showing markup views.

May not be considered a bug, but could be considered an odd design choice.

=======================
In the Track Changes Options dialog, one can set the manner in which
insertions and deletions will be shown (as well as the color).

For both insertions and deletions, one can choose "none" as one of
the choices. I would expect that to mean that if "none" is chosen for
insertions, then the insertion will be made, but not marked. This is,
in fact, how it operates.

I would expect a similar result if "none" is chosen for deletions: it
should delete the text, but not leave any indication of the deletion.
However, after setting the option to "none", I cannot delete the text at
all -- no matter what manner I use to try to delete the text.

Seems like a bug to me. Any contrary views? Or am I doing something
wrong?

David>>
--

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

 

[djprius]

Hi, Bob,

What version of Word are you finding this in?

Word 2007

I am see the behavior in Word 2007. If you turn off the the options
to mark deletions and balloon then try to delete text with track
changes on you get a change bar in the margin but the text you try to
delete still shows in Original showing markup view but not in in
Final or Final showing markup views.

In mine, the delete still shows in Final Showing Markup (if "inline"
is used, not balloons), as well as Original Showing Markup.

May not be considered a bug, but could be considered an odd design
choice.

I don't see it quite that way. I'd analyze it this way: The option
of "none" is in the "Markup" section of the dialog box. To me that
means "how does one want the change -- addition or deletion -- shown to
reader". For example, one can show the deletion with a strikethough or
show it as a "^" mark, etc. So, to show the deletion as "none" means to
me, in effect, don't give any visual representation of the change made
-- in other words, make the deletion, but do *not* show that the
deletion was made. Such would be done by removing the text in Final
Showing Markup. (As Suzanne has correctly noted, this turns out to be
the same result as if one used the "hidden" option; I'd have no
objection if MS removed the "none" option, but right now I think it does
not work as one would expect.)

This issue is minor, but it would be nice if it were righted.

<snip>

David

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I still disagree. As long as the change has not been accepted, then both
deleted and inserted text are displayed in the document. If you choose to
apply no formatting to the deleted text, then you can't tell it's been
deleted. I agree that "None" is an odd and unlikely formatting choice, but I
do believe that it is behaving exactly as advertised. If deleted text
formatted with strikethrough or any other formatting remains in the
document, then deleted text formatted with "None" should do the same, just
as inserted text formatted with "None" gives no indication that it has been
inserted.